South Valley Islamic Community Blog

Al Aqsa Masjid

Shaykh Ilyas Anwar

Many of you have received an e-mail from CAIR asking that we devote this week’s khutbah to the unfortunate event that occurred two weeks ago at Al Aqsa Masjid in Jerusalem. I have briefly discussed that incident in my khutbah two weeks ago upon hearing the news through the wire service on the Internet.

The Al Aqsa Masjid has a special place in our faith. It is mentioned in a number of places in the Quran, especially in relation to the Isra’ Mi’raj, the Night of Ascension, when our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ascended into Heaven (see Surah al Isra 17:1). Al Aqsa is the holiest place in Islam, next to Mecca and Medinah.

In the early days of Islam, Muslims prayed towards Jerusalem, that was our Qibla then. This was later changed by our Prophet s.a.w. towards Mecca, upon receiving a revelation to that effect. That was also a test for believers at that time on their belief on the revelations of our Prophet s.a.w. (Surah Al Baqarah 2: 142-3).

Prophetic traditions mention about the special blessings of Allah for whosoever prays three consecutive Jemaah in Al Aqsa mosque.

It is indeed the supreme irony that a place regarded as among the holiest by the three major monotheistic Faiths – Islam, Christianity, and Judaism – would today be the focus of so much controversy and outright violence.

There was a time not too long ago when Muslims had the upper hand and were controlling Jerusalem as with during the time following the Christian Crusades. At that time the followers of the other faiths were allowed to live there and practiced their religion freely. It was the epitome of tolerance and harmony.

Even though we Muslims in the West are in a minority, we do have and enjoy the rights and freedom accorded to all the other citizens of the majority. As such we have a special obligation to speak out of not only against injustices and gratuitous violence occurring not only in Jerusalem but also in the greater Muslim world and elsewhere. Muslim minorities in Non Western countries like India for example not only do not enjoy comparable freedom that we enjoy here in the West, but they are also subjected to increasing sectarian violence.

To have an effective voice we must be involved in the political process so that we can influence and where possible change the political landscape. We must not tolerate violence and anarchic behaviors whether perpetrated by Muslim minorities elsewhere or imposed upon them by the tyrant majority. When we see Muslim youths go on rampages destroying churches, synagogues and the places of worship of other faiths in Muslim countries we must not hesitate in condemning them. Indeed we should go beyond simply condemning, rather we should educate them that such acts of violence especially on places of worship or indeed any act of senseless violence are not acceptable. They are not and should not be part of our tradition.

Such acts of senseless violence are abhorred in any religion. That many of our young in the greater Muslim partake in them reflects the general ignorance on their part. That can only be corrected though educating them not only to the futility of such acts as seen from our faith but also to direct them to more fruitful pursuits.

Let us at all times have taqwa, be conscious of Allah’s presence. Meaning, we must do our part to change things and events where we can, and to have the patience and to have faith in Allah and seek His help and blessings where we cannot.